BC Liberal MLAs on Tuesday demanded action from the NDP government as Lower Mainland commuters have been left scrambling as transit strike action in Metro Vancouver goes into its first full week.
“With over 50 SeaBus cancellations since Friday, North Shore commuters are bearing the brunt of current strike action with no end in sight,” said North Vancouver-Seymour MLA Jane Thornthwaite. “I find it completely unacceptable that North Vancouver MLA and NDP Parliamentary Secretary for TransLink Bowinn Ma is standing by silent as her constituents and thousands more are left stranded. Transportation is the number one issue on the North Shore and instead, this week commuters are left feeling abandoned by those who need to be taking action to get people moving again. For a government that claims to want to get people out of their cars — their non-action on the strike says otherwise, leaving people on the North Shore with no other choice.”
The B.C. Liberals noted that TransLink announced on Tuesday morning that there will be more SeaBus cancellations during the busy afternoon rush hour and possible bus cancellations could be seen later this week around Metro Vancouver.
“This government’s lack of leadership on labour disputes and transportation woes is affecting thousands of British Columbians who are just trying to go about their lives,” said BC Liberal Labour Critic John Martin. “Add this to increased ICBC rates, the highest gas prices in the country, and no ride-hailing anytime soon, and you can understand why British Columbians, especially those in the Lower Mainland, are fed up with the lack of leadership from John Horgan and the NDP.”
From extended labour disputes in Saanich schools to the Metro Vancouver transit strike, Premier John Horgan’s failure of leadership has created disarray in the day-to-day lives of hundreds of thousands of British Columbians, the B.C. Liberals said.
The time for real leadership and focused solutions is now, not more delays, they added.